Protests over an alleged on-campus rape in Lahore escalated on Thursday, with Pakistani police using tear gas and batons to disperse hundreds of students who ransacked a college building in Rawalpindi, The Associated Press reports.
The unrest prompted authorities to shut down schools, colleges, and universities across Punjab province for two days, fearing further violence.
The alleged rape, reported on social media, has ignited widespread anger and fueled protests in several cities. While sexual violence against women is a persistent issue in Pakistan, open protests regarding such incidents remain rare due to the stigma attached.
The violence in Rawalpindi began with students burning furniture and blocking a key road, disrupting traffic. Police responded with force, arresting 250 people, primarily students, for disrupting the peace.
The situation has caused immense anxiety among parents, who struggled to secure their children’s release from police custody.
Similar clashes had occurred earlier this week in Lahore, where over two dozen students were injured after protesting for justice for the alleged victim, who they claimed was raped on campus at the Punjab Group of Colleges.
The protests, which appear to have erupted spontaneously, have highlighted the lack of student unions in Pakistan. Banned since 1984, these unions, according to Usman Ghani, head of the youth wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami opposition party, could have played a role in resolving the issue peacefully.
Ghani stressed the prevalence of sexual abuse cases within educational institutions, adding that the recent protests are a reflection of the growing frustration with the lack of safety and accountability.
The government, however, maintains that no assault took place. Authorities, including the Punjab chief minister, and the alleged victim’s parents have denied the allegations. However, Punjab police have urged the public to share any information regarding the alleged rape.
The protests come just weeks after a woman reported being gang-raped while on duty during a polio vaccination drive in Sindh province. The incident sparked outrage and prompted the arrest of three suspects.
